Available now from HarperCollins–Chickens in the Road: An Adventure in Ordinary Splendor, the wild and juicy memoir of my life at Stringtown Rising Farm. (Cows, cookies, high water, and love!) Plus special sections with recipes, crafts, and photographs. (What more could you ask for?)

From never-before-told stories to behind the scenes peeks at how and why it all really happened, the book bares all for the seasoned CITR reader and the brand new alike. This book is for you!

It was a cold late autumn day when I brought my children to live in rural West Virginia. The farmhouse was one hundred years old, there was already snow on the ground, and the heat was sparse–as was the insulation. The floors weren’t even, either. My then-twelve-year-old son walked in the door and said, “You’ve brought us to this slanted little house to die.”

Thus begins former romance writer Suzanne McMinn’s wild ride into self-sustainable living halfway up a hill on one of the most remote dirt roads in West Virginia, with a cast including her children, an enigmatic partner, the “rural neighborhood” of quirky characters, and a whole slew of ridiculous and uncooperative farm animals. An unlikely adventurer, the suburban born-and-bred author tackles one daunting challenge after another on her new 40-acre farm, from hatching chickens and milking a cow to herding sheep and making her own cheese. Whether she’s trying to convince a goat to accept its baby or just get her ornery neighbor to move over and let her pass on the road, every page of her adventure is fraught with laughter, passion, drama, and the risk of losing it all before she figures out why she’s doing it in the first place. And when she does lose it all, she discovers a triumph she never expected–along with the truth for which she’d been searching all along.

Based on her long-running, wildly popular blog, Chickens in the Road, Suzanne McMinn brings country life to vivid color with all the candor, comedy, and danger of a rollicking good adventure.

Put on your chore boots and jump in.

Reviews:

“[McMinn] found her road to self-realization much rockier than she imagined, but ultimately very satisfying…in her heart-on-her-sleeve, nutty narrative, she had to face the necessity for her own self-sufficiency…In this enjoyable memoir, she learned by trial and error how to do everything from scratch.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A mature woman’s heartbreaking, heroic, and hilarious coming of age story. To McMinn, life is a bold adventure, but only if you live it. And, boy, does she ever!” (Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Great Escape)

“Humorous and inspirational…a page-turning pep talk for anyone who’s ever wanted to quit their day job and do something different with their life. McMinn’s tale will leave you eager to leap, and build your wings on the way down, too.” (Susan McCorkindale, Author, Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl and 500 Acres and No Place to Hide, More Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl)Photo by Jerry Waters.

This book is dedicated with love and gratitude to each and every one of my readers at Chickens in the Road. You carried me through this journey on your wings of unflagging support and encouragement. Thank you always.

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"It was a cold wintry day when I brought my children to live in rural West Virginia. The farmhouse was one hundred years old, there was already snow on the ground, and the heat was sparse-—as was the insulation. The floors weren’t even, either. My then-twelve-year-old son walked in the door and said, “You’ve brought us to this slanted little house to die."Keep reading our story....

We were hoping for some thawing, but it does not look like we will be getting very much, the rain we are forcasted will turn back to snow tomorrow could be up to 8-9 inches. I give up! Joell on A Sight to Behold!

In the Chicago suburbs, Friday 34, Saturday 41, and Sunday 39 for our temperatures. We should be seeing some grass soon. At this point I would settle for seeing dirt/mud. Anything other than snow. Come On Spring!DeniseS on A Sight to Behold!

Hold on starting Wednesday afternoon we may start getting some frosting on our mud like 4 to 5 inches. funraiser on Mud Month

We have had a very mild January and February. We'll see what March brings us. We have had a great deals of mud from time to time from the rain. Sometimes we get 2" per day. Hope you have a great spring.holstein woman on Mud Month

We are supposed to get temps that may start melting the snow , but we are also supposed to get 1-2 inches of rain and since the ground under all that the snow is frozen, there have been flood warnings issued. I dont ever remember a Feb. like the one we had this year. We have not seen bare ground since shortly after Christmas.Joell on Mud Month

Country living is a challenge! That's why most of us do it, it's the sense of well being and accomplishment that you get when at the end of the day you can say... "I made it". Also, the longer that we hang in, the easier it gets. Frozen pipes, no gas, and sporadic electricity is not as scary to us, because we have "weathered the storm" before and we know how to face and get through it. Our forefather's got by with a lot less and prospered. I admire you Suzanne, because you have made it, and you have your own little block of paradise to show for it. Remember spring is just around the corner, get out the seeds and start planning the garden!glgoolsby on Struggling

OK so I tried a new box of borax and it still doesn't dissolve in hot water. But it still does what I want it to by loosening the glob of soap to be more liquid.tinawhalen on How to Make Liquid Soap

I love your bedroom - the lilac wall & lamp with your quilt look so beautiful together. The night stand is adorable, perfect for that spot.Jen on Conquering the Nightstand

You have a neat story and I have enjoyed reading it. I was a preachers daughter and from everywhere, too. I started in WV and I consider it home, we don't live as "boonies as you, but we also enjoy a simple lifestyle and are very self sufficient. I am glad you've given your children this opportunity. Thanks for sharing.mamaholla on The Slanted Little House

You always take such cool pictures. They bring back the memories of my parents and living on the farm. Thank you Suzanne for living your dream and the inspiration you give to others.starmartin on Hanging In